Sliding seat.



W. J. SLEFFEL.

SLIDING SEAT.

APPLIUATION FILED 111:0. 27, 1911.

1,067,789. Patented July 15, 1913.

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WILLIAM J'. SLEFFEL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE KIRK-LATTYMANU- FACTUBING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SLIDING snnr.

To all whom it may concern it known that 1, WILLIAM J. SLEFFEL, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county ofCuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Sliding Seats, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention being herein explained and the best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguishit from other inventions.

The object of my invention is the pro-- vision of an extremely simplesliding or adjustable seat which can be operated without excessivetrouble.

My device is extremely simple in construction and for this reason willbe particularly adapted to use on childrens vehicles such as go-carts,automobiles and the like. It is of course not confined exclusively toany such use but may be used on various other vehicles or for otherpurposes.

To the accomplishment of these and related ends, said invention thenconsists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mech anism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

lln said annexed drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a childsautomobile having my improved seat attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of the same; and Figs. 3 and a are views in perspective ofdetails of the construction.

In Fig. 1 is shown a childs automobile comprising a frame 1, frontwheels 2 and rear wheels 3. Attached to the latter is a gear wheel 4adapted to be driven by means of the large gear wheel 5 operated by thehandle 6 through the rod 7 The general construction of the automobilewill be readily apparent and no further description of the same isconsidered necessary. The seat is attached to the same for illustrativepurposes only. Upon the frame 1 are mounted two parallel flexiblemembers 8 which are preferably of circular cross-section and sup port aseat 9 having lugs '10 projecting downwardly from one end thereof. Thelug Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 27, 1911.

Patented July 15, 1913.

Serial No. 668,128.

10 has two holes in it, one, 11, being adapted to receive a pin or screwfor fastening the same to the bottom of the seat, the other, 12, beingin the downwardly extending portion of the lug and being adapted toreceive the member 8. Two of these lugs are used, one for each of themembers 8 and the holes 12 will be bored through the lugs at rightangles to the face of the downwardly projecting part. These holes willbe of substantially the same size as the members 8 and when concentrictherewith will permit the movement of the seat along the members. Byreason of the close fit of the members in these holes, when the seat isin position shown in Fig. 1, the holes will exert a secure grip upon themembers 8, securely retaining the seat against the movement along themembers. The weight of the occupant of the seat will of course besuflicient to hold the same in its normal position parallel to themembers 8, but I further provide a resilient loop 13 which is attachedto the rear end of the seat and incloses the two members 8 as shown inFig. 2. The action of the loop 13 is to grip the two members 8resiliently, thus securely retaining the same in the slots 14 at theouter sides of the loop. The seat may be raised by pressing the twomembers together and pulling upwardly on the rear of the seat, when theseat may be held at a suflicie nt angle to permit movement of the samealong the members 8.

The lugs are formed of comparatively thin sheet metal and are thereforesufliciently resilient to enable them to secure a resilient and veryfirm grip upon the supports 8 when the seat 9 is tilted into a fixedposition on the supports. By this construction there is a doublesecurity against movement of the seat along the supports when it is in afixed position. The resiliency of the supports 8 tends to prevent thismovement irrespective of the construction of the lugs 10, while theresiliency of the latter members also tends to prevent movement alongthe supports whether the supports are themselves resilient or thereverse.

The present seat possesses several advantages over the usual type ofsliding seat. It is extremely simple in construction yet gives a mostsecure locking action when adjusted in any position. The weight of theposition it is possible to eliminate the usual force used and theadjustment is made considerably easier.

The above named advantages are combined with comparative cheapness,secured by the simplicity, and adapt my seat to all uses requiring arapid acting but simple seat.

It will be a matter of indifi'erence whether the means for holding theseat in its normal position take the form of a loop 13, or somethingelse. The function to be performed is the retaining of the seat in itsfixed position and any suitable means may be used. A second function ofthe loop is to indicate that tilted position of the seat in which it maybe freely adjusted along the flexible members. In one such position, andonly one, will the holes in the lugs be 0011- centric with the members,and while there will be some play it will be inconvenient to adjust theseat except when the holes are.

concentric with the lugs, by reason of the friction between the same inall other po sitions. The size of the loop will be so calculated thatwhen the bottom of the loop strikes the members the seat will then be.freely adjustable and the "sides of the loop; are inclined toward eachsufiiciently to fric-f tionally grip the members enough to pre-@ ventthe seat from falling of its weight to a position where the lugs willbegin to en- At the same time this frictional grip will be so small thatnof trouble will be experienced in adjusting the gage the members.

seat along the members.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, pro- 5 vided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such' stated means be'employed.

tinctly claim as my invention 1. The combination of a resilient fixedent engagement between said seat and mem her when said seat is in normalposition.

3. The combination with two fixed flexible members disposed parallel toeach other, of a seat adapted to slide thereon, said seat lying normallyparallel to said member; two downwardly projecting lugs attached at oneend to said seat, said lugs having holes therein adapted to receive saidmember, and in the normal position of said seat, to securely grip saidmembers; and a flexible loop attached to the other end of said seat andadapted to resiliently engage said member, thereby retaining said seatin its normal position.

4. The combination of two fixed flexible rods disposed parallel to eachother; a seat adapted to slide thereon, said seat lying normallyparallel to said two members; two downwardly projecting lugs attached atone end to said seat, said lugs having holes therein adapted to receivesaid members, and in the normal or operative position of said seat tosecurely grip the same; and means automatically operated by the movementof said seat into its operative position, and adapted to retain saidseat in such position.

5. The combination of two fixed flexible rods disposed parallel to eachother; a seat adapted to slide thereon, said seat lying normallyparallel to said two members; two downwardly projecting lugs attached atone end to said seat, said lugs having holes therein adapted to receivesaid members, and in the normal or operative position of said seat tosecurely grip the same; and a flexible loop attached to the other end ofsaid seat, and extending around said rods, said loop being formed withinwardly projecting shoulders adapted to engage beneath said rods whensaid seat is moved into its operative position, thereby resiliently reitaining said seat in such position. I therefore particularly point outand dis- 6. The combination of two substantially parallel supports; aseat adapted to slide thereon; means adapted to secure said seat to saidsupports when said seat is moved to a given position relative to saidsup ports; and a flexible loop attached to said seat and extending pastsaid supports, said loop being formed with shoulders adapted to engagebeneath said supports, thereby retaining said seat in such fixedposition on said supports. 7

7. The combination of two substantially parallel but relatively movablesupports; a seat adapted to slide thereon; means adapted to secure saidseat to said supports when said seat is moved to a given positionrelative to said supports; and a loop attached to Signed by me this 21stday of December, said seat and extenging past salid amp 1911. )orts said100 3 bein or1ned with S 10111 ers tidapted to eiigage beneath saidsupports WILLIAM SLEFFEL' when the latter are moved relatively toAttested byeach other, thereby retaining said seat in FREDERICK H.MOISAAO,

such fixed position on said supports. HARRY D. REED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. O.

